Asia set for massive Cup boost, predicts Lahiri

(Reuters) - India's Anirban Lahiri has already enjoyed a career-best year at the highest level and is now itching to make his debut at the Presidents Cup next week when Asia will stage the biennial team competition for the first time.

Lahiri is one of five Asia-born players on the 12-man International roster set to take on the United States and he believes golf will receive a "massive" boost on his continent when the Cup is played in Incheon, South Korea from Oct 8-11.

"The Presidents Cup is going to be big news in Asia," Lahiri told Reuters. "It's great to have that spotlight on Asia because people there are going to recognize there is a sport called golf which is a global phenomenon, and a very popular one at that.

"It's going to help the growth of the game in Asia, more corporates hopefully are going to invest in it, the events are going to get bigger, the tours will get stronger and better players will come out of the region.

"No question, it's going to be massive for what this event is going to do for golf in Asia."

Lahiri, a double winner on the European Tour this year, joins fellow Asians Hideki Matsuyama of Japan, South Korea-born New Zealander Danny Lee, Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand and Korean Bae Sang-moon on Nick Price's International team.

"It's very important to have a host (Korean) representation on our team," said Lahiri, the first player from India to compete in the Presidents Cup.

"Sang-moon is there and Danny Lee, even though technically he is from New Zealand, is of Korean origin. So it's going to be great. It will be fantastic to get the home crowd going."
Continued...